Lou Vernon

Lou Vernon (born Clarence Alphonse Lambert, 26 June 1888, Brisbane – 22 December 1971, Sydney) was an Australian actor of stage, radio and screen and producer. He started his career in musical comedy, and was particularly noted for his versatility and ability as a character actor. [1][2]

Lou Vernon
Photograph by Lafayette, circa 1940
Born26 June 1888
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died22 December 1971(1971-12-22) (aged 83)
Sydney, Australia
Occupation(s)Actor, producer
Spouses
Olive Stella Josephine Lockyer Sinclair
​
​
(m. 1917; div. 1937)​
    Asthore Sarah Katherine Taunton
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1937; died 1965)​
    ChildrenRoss Vernon

    Roy Rene in his memoir mentioned Lou worked with him in the comedy farce, "Give and Take". It was described in The Bulletin, "There has not been so much laughter in any one spot in Melbourne for months and months".[3]

    Marriage and children

    By 1917 we find Vernon in Sydney making substantial inroads into Sydney's theatre scene. He also found love in a stunningly good looking divorcee Olive Stella Josephine Lockyer Norris, nee Sinclair. The two were married at Waverley in 1917. Olive had a child, not to her then husband, but to Lou Vernon. Olive was four years older than her husband. Their child, Ross Vernon would later show ambitions to follow his famous father into theatre. However that was not to be. As Flt. Lieutenant Ross Vernon, leading a second bombing sortie over Mawaraka, Bougainville, Ross crashed his RAAF bomber during World War II and was killed 11 January 1945.[4]

    Divorce

    By mid-1920's he was engaged by the J.C. Williamson Company and landed the plum role of Emile La Flamme in Rudolph Friml's romantic musical Rose-Marie. Also in the cast was Fifi Banvard, at the time separated from her husband and fellow member of Thespian Masonic Lodge in Brisbane, Edward de Tisne. The several times extended season of Rose Marie provided the venue for a long tempestuous love affair between Fifi and Lou Vernon. Rose Marie ran non-stop until 1928. A tolerant Mrs. Olive Vernon, meanwhile kept her own counsel only instigating divorce proceedings against Vernon a decade later in 1937

    Divorce and Re-marriage

    1937 was a busy year for Vernon. His marriage to Olive had somehow survived twenty turbulent years. However, by 1937 it ended in divorce. Vernon was now free to marry long-time friend Asthore Sarah Katherine Taunton (1907-1965). Asthore Sarah Taunton (Tory) was a dance teacher and choreographer whom Vernon met through theatre. They remained married until Tory's death in 1965.

    Death

    Vernon's last three years were spent in retirement in his Vaucluse home. Most of his contemporaries in acting and entertainment had either retired or passed on when Vernon 'got his call' dying just before Christmas, 1971. He was cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney, on Christmas Eve, 1971.

    Indeed, in his obituary headline in 1971 the Canberra Times writes "Dr. Mac" dead at 83, as a tribute to his role as Dr. Robert McIntyre in the long running radio program "Dr. Mac".

    Filmography
    Year Title Role Notes
    1931The ExileDistrict Attorney
    1932His Royal HighnessTorano
    1939Come Up SmilingSignor Rudolpho
    1939Gone to the DogsDoctor Sundermann
    1941The Power and the GloryProfessor Marnelle
    1941That Certain SomethingRobert Gimble
    1948The BetrayalNed Washington
    1957The ShiraleeGoon
    1959On the BeachBill Davidson
    1959Captain James CookAboriginal Legend
    1969You Can't See 'round CornersNugget

    References
    1. "AUSTRALIAN TALKIES". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 8 January 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
    2. "Versatile Lou Vernon". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 11 April 1942. p. 24. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
    3. "Sundry Shows". The Bulletin. 22 October 1925. p. 34 – via Trove.
    4. "Lou Vernon - A man of many talents..." (PDF).


    Sources


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